Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, the only mountain castle with its original keep still standing

Often called the "Castle in the Sky," Matsuyama Castle is one of Japan's 100 Famous Castles and one of only 12 castles with an original keep still standing. Even I, who don't have a particularly strong interest in castles, vividly remember being deeply moved by the sight of Matsuyama Castle and its surrounding scenery. People passing by seemed unusually cheerful too. I've seen many famous castles over the years, but the compactness of its keep is endearingly charming, and as a standalone castle, it might just be my favorite.

Matsuyama Castle